Weight-opening dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser comprising a container in combination with a twopositional closure, an apertured surface of the closure being positionable in contact with an internal surface of the container wall in a no-flow position, the apertured surface of the closure being positionable in spaced relationship to the internal surface of the container wall in a second position in which flow from the container occurs.

United States Patent Collie et al. [4 1 Apr. 25, 1972 541 WEIGHT-OPENING DISPENSER 2,829,380 4/1958 Wood ..222/498 x [72] Inventors: Stafford D. Collie; Ronald R; Oliver, both 332L114 5/1967 Croyle "222/499 of Kansas City MO. 2,698,115 12/1954 Lacher... ..222/499 [73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company Primary a umina-Stanley H. Tollberg Jan. 2, AttorneyYoung and [2]] Appl. No.: 2,200 [57] ABSTRACT A dispenser comprising a container in combination with a E (El ..zzz/4ag6z7z zggi twomositional closure, an apertured surface of the closure II being positionable i Contact i h an i l Surface f h [58] Field of Search ..222/498, 499, 563, 565,463 Container wall in a 110410, position the apertured Surface of the closure being positionable in spaced relationship to the in- [56] References cued ternal surface of the container wall in a second position in UNITED STATES PATENTS which flow from the container occurs.

3,405,849 10/l968 Kellogg ..222/498 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures |7\ 24 1 l8 g; 4 l9 7 n PAIENIED FR 2 5 I972 SHEET 10F 2 FIG. 2

FIG. I

INVENTORS S D. COLLIE R. R. OLIVER FIG. 3

PATENTEWR 25 1912 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 4

INVENTORS S. D, COLLIE R. R. OLIVER A T TOR/V5 Y5 WEIGHT-OPENING DISPENSER This invention relates to dispensing containers.

In one of its more specific aspects, this invention relates to a container having a two-positional closure.

It is important that dispensing containers be inexpensive, easily fabricated and that their dispensing mechanism, insofar as possible, be self-cleaning. The dispensing container of this invention possesses all these desired advantages.

According to the apparatus of this invention, there is provided a dispenser which comprises a container in combination with an attachable closure, the closure being positionable in one of two positions, apertured surfaces of the closure being in contact with the internal surface of the container wall in a first position in which flow through the apertures and from the container is prevented, the apertured surfaces of the closure being movable into spaced relationship from the internal surface of the container wall into a second position in which flow through the apertures and from the container occurs.

In one of its embodiments, the closure is manually changed from a first position to a second position.

In another of its embodiments, the closure is gravitationally changed from a first position to a second position.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a container easily positionable in either the open or closed position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container whose dispensing mechanism tends to be self-cleaning.

The apparatus of this invention will be more easily understood if explained in conjunction with the attached drawings in which FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of the container fitted with its closure,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of an alternate embodiment of the container,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of an alternate embodiment of the container,

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view in elevation of the closure, and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the closure.

The apparatus of this invention can be fabricated of any material which possesses those properties which permit positioning of the closure as hereinafter defined. Relatedly, the closure mechanism and the container portion of the apparatus may be of like or unlike materials. Similarly, the apparatus of this invention can be of any desired size and can be employed for containing and dispensing any material desired.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown in cross-sectional elevation container 1 and closure 2 positioned at the open end 3 of the container.

The container is adapted at its open end with means for attaching closure 2, by means of a threaded connection or, as shown in the drawing, by means of recess 4 into which the internal annular bead 5 of closure 2 is positionable.

Container 1 is adapted at its opening 3 with an annular internally projecting wall or seating surface 6 which provides a truncated conical configuration to open end 3 of the container.

This seating surface 6 can be formed in the wall of the container in any suitable manner. As shown in FIG. 1, it can be formed by inwardly and outwardly projecting wall 7 of container 1, a portion of the wall forming the seating surface. Also, it can be formed as shown in FIG. 2, by projection 8 of an enlarged portion of wall 7, in this instance a threaded connection being indicated between the container and the closure. Projection 8 can be an integral portion of wall 7 or can be a separable member 9, as illustrated in FIG. 3, ring 9 being insertable into container 1 and adapted for retention therein by means of peripheral protrusion 10 for seating in inner groove 11 of the container. As discussed hereinafter, regardless of the nature of projection 8, its surface 6 will be angularly disposed inwardly in matching relationship to a companion surface of closure 2.

Closure 2 is comprised of a material of sufficient flexibility to allow it to be retained in two positions into which it is alternately moved as hereinafter described. Referring to FIG. 1, closure 2 is comprised of a downwardly depending skirt 15 having internal annular bead 5 positioned for projection into recess 4 of the container. Formed inwardly of skirt 15 is dish 16 formed of angularly inwardly projecting truncated cone 17 and basin 20.

Angularly inwardly projecting sides 21 of truncated cone 17 are adapted to seat in matching relationship with inward projection 6 of the container, sides 21 of truncated cone 17 bearing on the upper surface of inward projection 6.

Downwardly depending from truncated cone 17 is substantially vertical side 18 with interconnecting surface 19 forming basin 20, the combination comprising a horizontally disposed closing surface.

As shown in FIG. 4, closure 2 is constructed so that the angularly inward projecting sides 21 forming truncated cone 17 are affixed to skirt 15 by outer hinge 22. Apertures 26 in sides 21, as shown in FIG. 5, can be of any suitable size, configuration and number. Relatedly, sides 21 of cone 17 are affixed to sides 18 of basin 20 by inner hinge 23. Accordingly, by upward movement of basin 20, side 21 of truncated cone 17 is repositioned to angle upwardly from skirt 15, thus altering the relationship of sides 21 to the truncation of the cone and unseating side 21 from inward projections 6 of the container. The resulting position of the closure in respect to the container is as shown in FIG. 4.

Upward movement of basin 20 can be facilitated by handle 24 affixed to interconnecting surface 19.

Upon assuming that elevated position shown in FIG. 4 involving the unseating of side 21 from inward projections 6 of the container, there is established open communication between the internal of the container and the outside of the container through passageway 25 and apertures 26. Accordingly, upon inverting the container, passage from its interior to its exterior is established.

Skirt 15 of the closure need not be positioned vertically but can be inclined inwardly toward handle 24, or outwardly therefrom; preferably, however, skirt 15 will be inclined inwardly. In either instance, however, side 21 in the open position will be inwardly inclined towards handle 24, the imaginary projection of side 21 forming an angle at its intersection with an imaginary projection of handle 24. Preferably, this angle will be between about 45 and about 75.

Relatedly, in the closed position, side 21 projects inwardly and downwardly and its imaginary projection intersects handle 24 to form an angle. The angle formed between that posi tion of side 21 in its open position and side 21 in its closed position will be between about 30 and about Similarly, side 21, when in the closed position, will form with the vertical an angle between about 45 and 75.

As shown in FIG. 5, and as previously stated, the apertures can be of any size, configuration and number. If desired, either a single aperture or a plurality of apertures can be employed. Upon returning basin 20 to that position in which sides 21 and projection 6 are in contacting relationship, passageway 25 is eliminated and flow through apertures 26 substantially ceases. Should a more positive cessation of flow be desired, projection 6 can be adapted with protrusions 27 which match or fit into and close apertures 26 upon the reseating of sides 21 on projection 6.

While handle 24 is provided to facilitate the positioning of basin 20, for example as shown by numeral 30 in FIG. 1, in open and closed position, it is possible to weight interconnecting surface 19 of basin 20 so that when the container is placed in the inverted position the basin moves downward to form passageway 25, and when the container is returned to the upright position, side 21 is reseated on projection 6 thus closing the container.

Various modifications are possible in consideration of the above disclosure. However, such are considered as being within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser comprising in combination:

in a second open position upon the flexing of said hinge, said horizontally disclosed closing surface being adapted with weight means to position said closure in said first closed position when said container is in an upright position and in said second open position when said container is in an inverted position.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, in which said hinge is positioned terminally of said vertically upstanding wall. 

1. A dispenser comprising in combination: a. a walled container having an inwardly angularly disposed side wall; and, b. a closure comprising a vertically upstanding side wall affixed to said container, an apertured surface, a hinge interconnecting said apertured surface to said vertically upstanding side wall and a horizontally disposed closing surface affixed to said apertured surface, said apertured surface positionable in contact with said angularly disposed side wall in a first closed position and positionable in spaced relationship from said angularly disposed side wall in a second open position upon the flexing of said hinge, said horizontally disclosed closing surface being adapted with weight means to position said closure in said first closed position when said container is in an upright position and in said second open position when said container is in an inverted position.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1, in which said hinge is positioned terminally of said vertically upstanding wall. 